Hay Feeder

ABSTRACT

The hay feeder of the present invention includes a top bar having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical rods. Each vertical rod has an upper end and a lower end extending downward from the top bar. The hay feeder of the present invention also includes a bottom bar having a first end and a second end. The bottom bar attaches to the lower ends of the vertical rods. The hay feeder also includes an angle plate having a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is configured to be above the second edge such that the angle plate extends at a downward angle.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/981,347, titled “HAY FEEDER,” filed Feb. 25, 2020.That application is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a hay feeder. Particularly, theapplication relates to an in-stall hay feeder as well as methods of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hay feeder is a device that is used to hold hay for animals to accesswhen they are hungry. A hay feeder is necessary for farmers and otheranimal care givers to provide nutrients to their animals. Previously,animals used a foraging method to satisfy their hunger. The hay feederdisclosed herein is an improvement over this early method of feeding dueto its consistency and convenience.

“Fodder” is a term for food harvested and stored specifically for animalconsumption. Prior to the use of fodder, farmers would commonly allowtheir animals to graze the land or provide them food from the plantsgrown on the land. However, as the type of food has evolved so have themethods of providing the food. The hay feeder has developed into acritical tool to help provide food to animals. Some problems that arecommon among the prior art include waste of fodder, discomfort foranimals, and creation of an unsafe feeding condition.

In previous embodiments, hay feeders have been constructed to be largeand free standing. While this is beneficial for feeding multiple animalsat once, it does not provide a practical solution for those concernedabout a single animal. It also poses a safety risk by increasing thechances that animals will fight for access to the food.

Alternatively, there have been prior devices intended to be used in asingle stall. These include small baskets or trough-like feeders as wellas longer feeders intended to be located in a corner. The caveat withthese types of feeders is that they tend to waste a lot of food eitherbecause the animal cannot comfortably access the food inside the feederor because the food is not kept in a sanitary location (i.e. itcontinuously mixes with contaminants on the ground). The discloseddevice is meant to be mounted a desired height (e.g., preferably, abouteight inches) above the ground to prevent the feed from continuouslymixing with contaminants. It is also ergonomically constructed so theanimal can have easy access to all of the food in the feeder.

These and other problems are addressed by the present device and methodto provide a system with numerous advantages in operation andeffectiveness. The present invention provides an improved hay feederwhich effectively prevents fodder waste while being ergonomic foranimals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein an improved hay feeder which avoids thedisadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural andoperating advantages.

In an embodiment, the hay feeder of the present invention includes a topbar having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of horizontallyspaced vertical rods. Each vertical rod has an upper end and a lower endextending downward from the top bar. The hay feeder of the presentinvention also includes a bottom bar having a first end and a secondend. The bottom bar attaches to the lower ends of the vertical rods. Thehay feeder also includes an angle plate having a first edge and a secondedge. The first edge is configured to be above the second edge such thatthe angle plate extends at a downward angle.

These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readilyfrom the following description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND APPENDED DOCUMENTS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject mattersought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and appendices embodiments thereof, from an inspection ofwhich, when considered in connection with the following description, thesubject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation,and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the hay feeder ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the hay feeder ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the hay feeder of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the hay feeder of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the hay feeder of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a back view of an embodiment of the hay feeder of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a left side side view of an embodiment of the hay feeder ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of an embodiment of the hay feeder of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated.

The disclosed hay feeder was designed with animal, specifically horsesafety and convenience in mind. An ideal location for installation ofthe disclosed hay feeder is in a single stall. The disclosed embodimentscan accommodate the volume of half a bale of hay at once which is enoughfor one horse to feed on all day. Additionally, it prevents horses fromfighting over the feed and potentially causing injury to other horses.

The unit is configured to be elevated about eight inches above theground. This keeps the bottom layer of hay clean and prevents it fromgrowing bacteria. It also allows the horse to eat in its naturalposition and prevents any hoofs from being caught. If any of the feedfalls to the ground the horse will still have access to eat it.

Additionally, the angle plate allows gravity to keep the food in anatural position for the horse to eat. In an embodiment the hay feederis made from food grade stainless steel which makes it easier to clean,more durable, and more hygienic. The lid makes the hay feeder easy toload and prevents any feed from coming out of the top.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-9, there is illustrated an embodiment of thehay feeder 10 of the present invention and its numerous components. Thisparticular embodiment of the hay feeder 10 is primarily used for feedinghorses, but the hay feeder 10 can be adapted to feed cattle or otheranimals.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a hay feeder 10 in accord with anembodiment of the present invention. The hay feed 10 comprises a top bar12. The top bar 12 can be a solid bar, or may be a tube or othersuitable configuration. In an embodiment, the top bar 12 issemicircular. the semicircular shape ensures there are no sharp edgesfor animals to injure themselves.

The first and second ends 14 and 16 of the top bar 12 can includebrackets 18 and 20 for attaching the top bar 12 and the entire hayfeeder 10 to a vertical or other backing surface (not shown) such as awall.

The hay feeder 10 also includes a bottom bar 22. The bottom bar 22 canbe a solid bar, or may be a tube or other suitable configuration. In anembodiment, the bottom bar 22 is semicircular like the top bar 12. Thefirst and second ends 24 and 26 of the bottom bar 22 can includebrackets 28 and 30 for attaching the bottom bar 22 and the entire hayfeeder 10 to a vertical surface (not shown) such as a wall.

A plurality of vertical rods 32 extend between the top bar 12 and bottombar 22. The rods 32 each have an upper end 34 and a lower end 36. In anembodiment, the upper ends 34 of the vertical rods 32 are attached tothe top bar 12, and the lower ends 36 are attached to the bottom bar 22by any suitable means such as welds. In an embodiment, the vertical rods32 may be inserted into openings in the top bar 12 and bottom bar 22adapted to accommodate the respective upper ends 34 and lower ends 36 ofrods 32. Vertical rods 32 may be any suitable shape such as round orrectangular in cross-section. Vertical rods 32 are also spaced apartfrom each other to permit an animal such as a horse to access foddersuch as hay within the hay feeder 10.

The hay heeder 10 also includes a lid 38. Lid 38 has an outer edge 40.The lid 38 is sized such that the outer edge 40 can be removablyattached to or rest upon the top bar 12. In an embodiment where the topbar 12 is semicircular, the lid 30 is also semicircular. Lid 38 alsoincludes a first plurality of raised portions 42 and a hole 44 forassisting in removing the lid 38. The raised portions 42 are preferablyparallel and generally rectangular, and may include rounded end portions46.

Hay feeder 10 also includes an angle plate 48 within the hay feeder 10.The angle plate 48 is preferably rectangular or trapezoidal in shape andincludes a second plurality of raised portions 50. The raised portions50 are preferably parallel and generally rectangular, and may includerounded end portions 52. The raised portions 50 assist in allowing hayor other feed to slide to the bottom of the hay feeder 10. The angleplate 48 has a bracket portion 54 along a first edge 56 for attachingthe first edge 56 to the vertical backing surface. The angle plate 48also includes a second edge 58 opposite first edge 56. The first edge 56is preferably attached to the backing surface above the second edge 58such that the angle plate 48 is angled downward and outward from thebacking surface. The angle 60 (FIGS. 7 and 8) should be sufficient topermit hay or other fodder to slide along the angle plate 48. In apreferred embodiment the angle 60 should be in the range of 30 to 75degrees.

In an embodiment, the hay feeder 10 includes a back rod 62 having afirst end 64 and a second end 66. The first and second ends 64 and 66 ofback rod 62 are attached to the bottom bar 22. A plurality of bottomrods 68 extend from the bottom bar 22 to the back rod 62 and are spacedapart to provide support for the second edge 58 of angle plate 48. Thesecond side 58 of angle plate 48 may rest upon the bottom rods 68 or maybe attached to them via any suitable means such as welding.

In another embodiment, depending perhaps on the size of the hay feeder10, the hay feeder 10 may include a third bar 70 located between top bar12 and bottom bar 22. The third bar 70 can be a solid bar or may be atube or other suitable configuration. In an embodiment, the third bar 70is semicircular like the top bar 12 and bottom bar 22. The first andsecond ends 72 and 74 of the bottom bar 70 can include brackets forattaching the third bar 70 and the entire hay feeder 10 to the verticalsurface. In this embodiment, the plurality of vertical rods 32 comprisesa first plurality of vertical rods 76 having an upper end 78 and lowerend 80 extending downward from the top bar to the third bar 70 and asecond plurality of vertical rods 82 having an upper end 84 and lowerend 86 extending downward from the third bar 70 to the bottom bar 22. Inanother embodiment the vertical rods 32 may pass through openings in thethird bar 70.

In operation, the lid 38 is removed and hay or other fodder isintroduced into the top of the hay feeder 10. Hay then falls to thebottom of the feeder 10 and contacts the angle plate 48. The angle plate48 continually forces the hay to the front of the feeder 10 by gravitywhere it is continuously and readily accessible to the animals throughvertical rods 32. Once the hay feeder 10 is filled with hay, the lid 38is placed back on the top of the feeder 10. The lid 38 helps to preventrain or other materials from getting into the hay, as well as to preventhay from being forced out of the feeder 10.

The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation.While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants'contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective based on the prior art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hay feeder, comprising: a top bar having afirst end and a second end; a plurality of horizontally spaced verticalrods, each having an upper end and a lower end, the vertical rodsextending downward from the top bar; a bottom bar having a first end anda second end, the bottom bar attaching to the lower ends of the verticalrods; and an angle plate having a first edge and a second edge, thefirst edge configured to be above the second edge such that the angleplate extends at a downward angle toward the front of the feeder.
 2. Thehay feeder of claim 1 further comprising a third bar having a first endand a second end and located between the top bar and the bottom bar. 3.The hay feeder of claim 2 wherein the first and second ends of at leastone of the top bar, third bar and bottom bar are attachable to a backingsurface.
 4. The hay feeder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of verticalrods comprises a first plurality of vertical rods having an upper endand a lower end extending downward from the top bar to the third bar anda second plurality of vertical rods having an upper end and a lower endextending downward from the third bar to the bottom bar.
 5. The hayfeeder of claim 1 further comprising a lid.
 6. The hay feeder of claim 1further comprising a back rod having a first end and a second end, thefirst and second ends attached to the bottom bar, and a plurality ofbottom rods extending between the bottom bar and the back rod.
 7. Thehay feeder of claim 1 wherein the top bar comprises a semicircular tube.8. The hay feeder of claim 1 wherein the bottom bar comprises asemicircular tube.
 9. The hay feeder of claim 1 wherein the angle plateincludes a plurality of parallel raised portions.
 10. The hay feeder ofclaim 9 wherein the parallel raised portions are generally rectangular.11. The hay feeder of claim 1 wherein the first edge of the angle plateis attachable to a backing surface.
 12. The hay feeder of claim 1wherein the downward angle is in a range between 30 and 75 degrees. 13.A hay feeder, comprising: a top bar having a first end and a second end;a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical rods, each having an upperend and a lower end, the vertical rods extending downward from the topbar; a bottom bar having a first end and a second end, the bottom barattaching to the lower ends of the vertical rods; wherein the first andsecond ends of at least one of the top bar and bottom bar are attachableto a backing surface; an angle plate having a first edge and a secondedge, wherein the first edge of the angle plate is attachable to abacking surface, the first edge configured to be above the second edgesuch that the angle plate extends from the backing surface at a downwardangle, the angle plate also having a plurality of parallel raisedportions.
 14. The hay feeder of claim 13 wherein the parallel raisedportions are generally rectangular.
 15. The hay feeder of claim 13wherein the parallel raised portions have rounded ends.
 16. The hayfeeder of claim 13 further comprising a third bar having a first end anda second end and located between the top bar and the bottom bar.
 17. Thehay feeder of claim 13 wherein the plurality of vertical rods comprisesa first plurality of vertical rods having an upper end and a lower endextending downward from the top bar to the third bar and a secondplurality of vertical rods having an upper end and a lower end extendingdownward from the third bar to the bottom bar.
 18. The hay feeder ofclaim 13 wherein the downward angle is in a range between 30 and 75degrees.
 19. A hay feeder, comprising: a top bar having a first end anda second end; a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical rods, eachhaving an upper end and a lower end, the vertical rods extendingdownward from the top bar; a bottom bar having a first end and a secondend, the bottom bar attaching to the lower ends of the vertical rods;wherein the first and second ends of at least one of the top bar andbottom bar are attachable to a backing surface; an angle plate having afirst edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge of the angle plateis attachable to a backing surface, the first edge configured to beabove the second edge such that the angle plate extends at a downwardangle from the backing surface in a range between 30 and 75 degrees, theangle plate having a plurality of generally rectangular parallel raisedportions.
 20. The hay feeder of claim 19 further comprising a third barhaving a first end and a second end and located between the top bar andthe bottom bar.